Manually-operated liquid dispenser

ABSTRACT

A liquid dispenser for manual operation comprising a body for connection to the top of a liquid container, and a contractible head having a discharge portion and fitted into said body, both the body and the head being of elastomeric plastic material, spring means for retaining the head extended in non-dispensing position, and the body and the head being provided with integral sealing portions that cooperate to control flow from said container. The usual ball valves common to the present type of device are dispensed with said sealing portions serving as pressure-operated valve-like means that control flow of liquid from the container to said discharge portion of the head.

[ 1 Sept. 18, 1973 llited States Patent [1 1 Kane, deceased et al.

[ MANUALLY-OPERATED LIQUID Primary Examiner-Stanley H. Tollberg DTSPENSER Att0rney-Hyman Jackman [76] inventors: Neil G. Kane, deceased, late of Hacienda Heights, Calif.; by Virginia L. Kane, special administratrix,

15411 Rojas St., Hacienda Heights, A liquid dispenser for manual operation comprising a Calif.

body for connection to the top of a liquid container, and a contractible head having a discharge portion and fitted into said body, both the body and the head being [22] Filed: Sept. 8, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 287,564 of elastomeric plastic material, spring means for retaining the head extended in non-dispensing position, and the body and the head being provided with integral sealing portions that'cooperate to control flow from said container. The usual ball valves common to the present type of device are dispensed with said sealing portions serving as pressure-operated valve-like means that control flow of liquid from the container to said discharge portion of the head.

[521 (1.8. Ci. 222/385 [51] Int Cl B67d 5/40 [58] Field of Search..................... 222/384, 385, 383

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,361,078 H1968 Cooprider....................... 222/383 X 8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures llflllfllllrllvllllllvfi A II 1 MANUALLY-OPERATED LIQUID DISPENSER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION any teaching relating to the cooperation of two molded 1 interfitted components of elastomeric material and in which an expansion spring biases the components to non-dispensing extended relation and against the bias of which the components are contracted to a fluiddispensing relationship. Nor does said art teach the provision of elastomcric means integrally formed on the body and head to automatically control the transmission of liquid to dispense the same.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A fluid dispenser comprising an elastomericouter body having an extension for receiving and passing liquid from a container thereof and having an integral circular seal, an elastomeric head telescopically fitted to said body and having a liquid discharge, said head being manually contractible into the body and provided with integral seal means that engage with the walls of the body during dispensing and contracting movements of the head to effect transfer of liquid from the container to and outwardly of a discharge in said head, and spring means to normally extend the head from one end of the body and against the bias of which the head is contracted.

An object of the invention is to provide a liquid dispenser as above generally characterized that isextremely simply formed of two elastomeric components and a single spring means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a liquid dispenser that has a pumping action and in which the usual valve elements that control passage of liquid are omitted in their entirety, making for a simplified and inexpensive construction.

This invention also has for its objects to provide such means that are positive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a working position and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceablity.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description, which is based on theaccompanying drawing. However, said drawing merely shows, and the following specification merely describes, preferred embodiments of the present invention, which are given by way of illustration or example only.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view partly broken, of the present dispenser for dispensing liquids and shown in a non-operated extended position.

FIG. 2 is a similar sectional view of said dispenser with the components thereof at the end of a dispensing operation and lock in said position, a portion thereof being broken away.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of an alternative form of outlet for the dispenser in the form of a nozzle for dispensing liquid in spray form.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of said nozzle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present dispenser comprises, generally, a body 5, a head 6 telescopically fitted into said body and a coil 0 spring 7 for biasing said head in an extended or outward direction and against the bias of which said head may be depressed by the handor a finger of the person operating the dispenser; An important feature of this invention is that both the body and the head are formed of an elastomeric plastic material such as polypropylene or polyethylene of which the former is preferred because of its high tensile strength, flexible yet tough properties at low temperatures, its low vapor transmission, and its high resistance to absorption of moisture, oils and greases.

Said dispenser is adapted to be disposed on the opening or neck 10 of a container 11 with the body 5 substantially entirely within the container, a cap 12 being threadedly engaged with said container neck 10 so the body may be removably secured to the container.

The body 5 is formed to have a generally tubular outer wall 13 and a concentric inner wall 14 that, between them, form an annular chamber 15 the bottom of which is closed by a wall 16. Said body 5 is provided with an axial lower extension 17 of a length to terminate in close adjacency to the bottom 18 of the container. The mentioned outer wall 13, near the upper end thereof, is provided with a flange 19 which is, clamped between the outer edge of the container and the cap thereby securely, yet movably affixing the body 5 to the container. 1

An annular inturned flange 20 is integrally provided I on the end of the wall 13, outwardly of the flange 19,

and a relatively small opening or vent 21 is provided in said wall 13 below the flange 19.

The above-mentioned concentric wall 14 defines an axial passage or chamber 22, and an outwardly extending circumferential seal 23 is provided as an integral extension of wall 14. It will be noted that the wall of said seal 23 is quite thin and, due to its being elastomcric is I capable of expansion circumferentially. By tapering the thickness of said wall of seal 23, as shown, the latter is position-retaining yet allowing circumferential enlargement thereof, as indicated. 1

The head 6 has an outer circumferential wall 25 of a size to telescopically fit within the flange 20 of the body 5. At the lower end of wall 25 is provided an annular shoulder 26 that is larger than the opening in flange 20. Due to the elastomeric consistency of the material of which the body 5 and head 6,are formed, the flange 20 may expand and the shoulder 26 contract during assembly of the head and the body. However, after such assembly, the flange 20 and shoulder 26 cooperate to retain assembly during telescopic movement of the head 6 relative to the body 5.

Said wall 25, beyond the shoulder 26, is integrally provided with a sealing flange 27 that is in sliding engagement with the inner face of wall 13 of the body 5. The same is bowed and tapered to a thin edge so as to be pressed into sealing engagement with said wall l3.by pressure in chamber 15. The outer face .of the wall 25, adjacent its upper ,end is provided with a radial flange 28 which, upon engagement with the flange 2t), limits the contracted position of the head 6 in the body 5, as in FIG. 2.

Concentrically with the wall 25, the head 6 is provided with a tubular wall 29 substantially co-extensive lengthwise with the wall 25, a sealing flange 30 being formed on the lower end of said wall 29 and having telescopic sealing engagement with the outer face of inner wall 14 of the body.

The annular chamber or space 31 formed between the walls 25 and 29 of the head 6 and which extend from the top 32 thereof, in general, is concentric with the chamber of the body. An expansion coil spring 33 is disposed in the annular space provided and serves to bias the head 6 outwardly, as in FIG. 1, said spring contracting as the head is depressed by a hand or finger applied to the top 32, as in FIG. 2.

Concentrically with the walls 25 and 29 and axially within the latter wall is, provided a plunger rod 34 which also extends from the head top 32. The lower end of said plunger rod is provided with an englargement 35 that, when the head 6 is extended, has sealing engagement with a seat 36 formed in the inner face of the wall 14.

The walls 25 and 29 are connected by webs 36, the lower ends thereof forming a seat against which the bias of spring 7 is applied. The passages between said webs communicate space 31 with the passage of a laterally directed discharge spout 38.

A connection between the body 5 and the head 6 to retain the dispenser locked during shipment to avoid spillage of the contents of container 11 comprises diametrally opposite studs 38 adjacent the outer end of the head and the inwardly facing shoulder of the body flange 20. By depressing the head 6 to the position of FIG. 2 so said studs 38 may pass through slots 39, and partially rotating said head said studs 38 are locked beneath flange 20. Release of the head is easily effected by a reverse rotation so the studs 38 may pass outwardly of said slots.

OPERATION The liquid in the container 11 may be at any lvel above the lower end 40. With the head 6 in the outward position of FIG. 1, dispensing the liquid through the spout 38 of said head is effected by hand or finger pressure to bottom said head with its studs 38 in engagement with the flange of the body 5, thereby decreasing the volume of the chamber 41 within the annular wall 29, as shown in FIG. 2. The air entrapped in said chamber is forced through the sealing flange 30 which expands circumferentially in response to such pressure. Hence, the pressure in the contracted chamber 41 becomes greater than the pressure in the chamber 15, which is open to atmosphere through the nozzle 38. Air is prevented from entering passage 22 by theseal 23 due to the increased pressure in chamber 41 forcingthe same into tighter sealing contact with the plunger rod 34.

When the inward pressure on the end 32 of the head 6 is removed, the spring 7 from its compressed condition of FIG. 2, forces the head 6 outwardly, causing enlargement of chamber 41 and expansion of the air that had been compressed, as above described, resulting in a vacuum being drawn in said chamber. The pressure in chamber 41 being lower than the atmospheric pressure of chamber 15, the seal 30 is drawn close around the wall 14 and the seal 23 is caused to expand and open due to the vacuum in chamber 41 and the higher atmospheric pressure in the passage 22. When the air has been exhausted, a similar exchange action occurs, with the liquid in the tubular area of chamber 22 being drawn upwardly as the head is alternately depressed and released.

The liquid, upon reaching the chamber 15, is subjected to a volumetric change when the head is depressed. Since the seal closes with pressure in chamber 15, the liquid pressurized in said chamber cannot escape, as noted above, nor can it escape past the sealing flange 27. Such liquid in chamber 15, following the path of least resistance, passes upwardly in chamber 31 of the head and outwardly through the spout 38.

The vent 21 keeps the liquid in container 11 under atmospheric pressure, the same being closed by the sealing flange 27 when the dispenser is in the released position of FIG. 1. When the head is depressed the flange 28 contacts the flange 20, preventing liquid from flowing around the outer perimeter of the head. Therefore, the vent 21 is operable only when the head is in motion relative to the body. When the head is at rest and when locked in depressed position by engagement of studs 38 under the flange 20, as in FIG. 2, said vent is closed and spillage of the contents of the container obviated. In connection with the foregoing, in the locked condition of the dispenser components, the circumferential outer face of the wall 14 has a sealing fit with the inner face of the wall 29, as in FIG. 2, the same also preventing spillage, especially when the dispenser is being attached to the container neck 10. When the dispenser is in extended position, as in FIG. 1, a similar leakage-sealing fit is provided between the seat 36 formed in the inner face of wall 14 and the enlargement on the inner end of the plunger rod 34.

When the head is released from its locked position by turning thereof relatively to the body so the stud 38 may be passed through the slots 39, the dispenser is partially primed ready to operate by expansion of the spring 7 and outward extension of the head to the position FIG. 1.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the spout may be replaced by a nozzle 45 to produce a spray effect. In such case, the extension 17 of the body need not be elongated, as in FIG. l, but may be shortened, as to the dotdash line 46 of FIG. 2.

The nozzle 45 is provided with a small discharge oriflee 47 and inward thereof, with a set of tangential inlet grooves which are open to the chamber 31 in the head and which induce a spinning and swirling movement to the liquid flowing upwardly in said chamber. The result is a discharge through the orifice 47 of a fine mist.

While the foregoing has illustrated and described what is now contemplated to be the best mode of carrying out the invention, the consturction is, of course, subject to modification without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A manually-operated liquid dispenser comprising: a body of elastomeric plastic material adapted for attachment to the neck of a container of liquid, said body having an outer chamber open at its upper end and closed to the interior of the liquid container, and an axial chamber substantially longitudinally coextensive with said outer chamber and chamber of the housing, and an axial chamber substantially longitudinally coextensive with said outer chamber, a tubular wall separating said latter two chambers, an integral and annular flexible seal extending downwardly from the last-mentioned tubular wall in sealing engagement with the outer cylindrical surface of the tubular wall of the body, and said head being provided with an axial plunger rod extending through the mentioned flexible seal of the head and in sealing engagement with the cylindrical surface of said rod, and an expansion spring biasing said body and head to longitudinally extending position, and against the bias of which the head is contractibly moved relative to the body, said spring being disposed in the mentioned aligned outer chambers of the body and the head. I 2. A liquid dispenser according to claim 1 in which the flexible seal on the mentioned tubular wall of the body is formed to expand under pressure in the axial chamber of the body during contraction of the head to pass such pressure to the axial chamber of the head.

3. A liquid dispenser according to claim 2 in which the pressure in said axial chamber expands the annular seal on the tubular wall separating the outer and annular chambers of the head to pass said pressure into the outer chamber of the body and, therefore, outwardly of the discharge outlet of the head.

4. A liquid dispenser according to claim 1 in which the lower end of the axial plunger rod is provided with an enlargement to engage with and expand the annular seal that extends upwardly from the tubular wall of the body when the head is in extended position, thereby sealing the axial chamber of the head from the axial chamber of the body.

5. A liquid dispenser according to claim 1 in which the lower end of the outer wall of the head is provided with an integral sealing flange that, in all relative positions of the body and head, is in sealing engagement with the outer wall of the body.

6. A liquid dispenser according to claim 3 in which the outer wall of the body, adjacent its upper end being closed by said sealing flange when the head is in extended position and open to the outer chamber of the body during telescopic contracting movement of the head relative to the body.

7. A liquid dispenser according to claim 3 in which means is provided to lock the body and head in nondispensing position, said means comprising an inwardly directed flange on the upper end of the body, and outwardly extending stud means on the head to engage beneath said flange, the flange being provided with openings through which the stud means are adapted to pass when the head is contracted into the body, the head and body beingrelatively rotational to misalign the stud means and openings to effect such locking of body and head.

8. A liquid dispenser according to claim 3 in which the upper end of the body is provided with an inwardly directed flange, the lower portion of which comprising an annular downwardly directed shoulder, and the outer wall of the head, at its end adjacent the sealing flange on said outer head wall having an upwardly directed co-engaging shoulder to limit the extension of 

1. A manually-operated liquid dispenser comprising: a body of elastomeric plastic material adapted for attachment to the neck of a container of liquid, said body having an outer chamber open at its upper end and closed to the interior of the liquid container, and an axial chamber substantially longitudinally coextensive with said outer chamber and having a lower extension open to the interior of the container, a tubular wall separating said chambers, and an integral and annular flexible seal extending upwardly from said tubular wall, a head of elastomeric plastic material having an outer wall telescopically fitted into the outer wall of the housing and terminating at its upper end in a liquid-discharging outlet, said head having an outer chamber with its upper and open to said outlet and its lower end open to and in alignment with the outer chamber of the housing, and an axial chamber substantially longitudinally coextensive with said outer chamber, a tubular wall separating said latter two chambers, an integral and annular flexible seal extending downwardly from the last-mentioned tubular wall in sealing engagement with the outer cylindrical surface of the tubular wall of the body, and said head being provided with an axial plunger rod extending through the mentioned flexible seal of the head and in sealing engagement with the cylindrical surface of said rod, and an expansion spring biasing said body and head to longitudinally extending position, and against the bias of which the head is contractibly moved relative to the body, said spring being disposed in the mentioned aligned outer chambers of the body and the head.
 2. A liquid dispenser according to claim 1 in which the flexible seal on the mentioned tubular wall of the body is formed to expand under pressure in the axial chamber of the body during contraction of the head to pass such pressure to the axial chamber of the head.
 3. A liquid dispenser according to claim 2 in which the pressure in said axial chamber expands the annular seal on the tubular wall separating the outer and annular chambers of the head tO pass said pressure into the outer chamber of the body and, therefore, outwardly of the discharge outlet of the head.
 4. A liquid dispenser according to claim 1 in which the lower end of the axial plunger rod is provided with an enlargement to engage with and expand the annular seal that extends upwardly from the tubular wall of the body when the head is in extended position, thereby sealing the axial chamber of the head from the axial chamber of the body.
 5. A liquid dispenser according to claim 1 in which the lower end of the outer wall of the head is provided with an integral sealing flange that, in all relative positions of the body and head, is in sealing engagement with the outer wall of the body.
 6. A liquid dispenser according to claim 3 in which the outer wall of the body, adjacent its upper end being closed by said sealing flange when the head is in extended position and open to the outer chamber of the body during telescopic contracting movement of the head relative to the body.
 7. A liquid dispenser according to claim 3 in which means is provided to lock the body and head in non-dispensing position, said means comprising an inwardly directed flange on the upper end of the body, and outwardly extending stud means on the head to engage beneath said flange, the flange being provided with openings through which the stud means are adapted to pass when the head is contracted into the body, the head and body being relatively rotational to misalign the stud means and openings to effect such locking of body and head.
 8. A liquid dispenser according to claim 3 in which the upper end of the body is provided with an inwardly directed flange, the lower portion of which comprising an annular downwardly directed shoulder, and the outer wall of the head, at its end adjacent the sealing flange on said outer head wall having an upwardly directed co-engaging shoulder to limit the extension of the head relative to the body. 